weaver



(No Model.) 2 She etsSheet 1.

F. M. WEAVER. Treadlef N0. 243,020. Patented June 14,1881.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. M. WEAVER.

.Treadle. N0. 243,020. Patented June I4,l88I-..

N, PETERS. Fholoulhognpher, Washingtan. 04 c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

FRANCIS M. WEAVER, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE -HALF TO WILLIAM AUGUSTUS HANOE,OF SAME PLACE.

TREADLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,020, dated June 14, 1881.

' Application filed April 25, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS IVIARION WEAV- ER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clarke and State 5 of Ohio, have invented new and useful-Improvements in Treadles, of which the following is a specification.

I have made certain improvements in the treadle adapted to have a swinging action'upon 2o frame"; and these bearing-armsaresupported from the end frames by hangers'arranged between the treadle-bearin gs proper and the frame-rod which carries the bearing-arms, whereby a swinging treadle is adapted for di- 2 5 rect attachment to the ordinary treadl'e-rod of the frame. This is important because such a rod is necessary to brace and strengthen the end frames of the machine, and the advantages of a swinging treadle are fully obtained when such a treadle is adapted for use with the lower frame bracing-rod. The swingingtreadle-attachment, as I have devised it, can

be applied to the treadle-rod and to the pitman-rod of machines now made and in use by 3 5 removing the'foot-rests from said rod and detaching them from the pitman-rod, and thus supply the machine with a treadle which relieves the operator ofthe injurious strain upon the muscles of the thighs,'hips, and lower por- 0 tion of the back, incident in the use of the ordinary foot-rests rocking upon the frame-rod. Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure lrepresent'sa view, in perspective, of a swinging treadle embracin g my improvem en ts 5 Fig. 2, a vertical cross-section of the same,

showing the crank-pin connection of the balance-wheel held out of dead-center when the n achineis not in use; Fig. 3, the pitman-treadle connections and sectional views thereof;

and Fig. 4, one of the crank-arms, the bearingarm therefor, and the hanger for supporting said bearing-arm detached from the frame-rod and the treadle.

My improved swingingtreadlehas two points of support-viz., by bearing-arms upon the rod 5 5 a, which connects and braces the lower portion of the end frames of a sewing-machine, and by hangers upon the endframes. Upon the roda and on the innersides of the end frames of the machine are secured arms A A, which curve forward and upward, and are providedat their upper ends with holes which receive the cylindrical ends I) b of separate crank-arms, which carry the treadle or footrest B, so that the latter is supported by bearings mounted upon the frame-rod. 7

The crank-arms O G extend-downward and rearwardfrom their connection with thebearing-arms, and are formed with horizontal extensions c c to which the footrest is secured. The bearings for the crank-arms are at points sufliciently high above the frame-rod to allow the treadle to swing over said rod, while the crank-arms extend downward in positions to cause their ibot-rest-supporting parts 0 c to swing over and free of said rod. The treadle is thus supported directly upon and above the frame-rod a by the bearing-arms A A extending therefrom, and having a rigid connection therewith.

The bearin g-arms A A, having the described relation to the crank-arms O (3, would be liable to be broken and to turn at their sleeve bearings a, upon the frame-rod, and thus destroy the proper relation of the parts upon which 85 the treadle swings, and to prevent such accident and derangement ofthese parts I provide for supporting the bearing-arms by hangers D D, arranged to connect said bearing-arms with the end frames of the machine. These hango ers have fixed connections at their upper ends with the end frames, and depending therefrom are adjustably connected to the bearing-arms at points near their connection with the framerod, whereby the said bearing-arms are sup- 5 ported against the weight and action of the treadles, and the bearings of the swinging crank-arms are kept coincident. The fixed gle bolt.

of screw-bolts e e, passing through holes f in said hangers and holes f in said arms, whereby the said bearing-arms may be adjusted up or down to raise or lower the bearings for the crank-arms to adjust the pitman-connection Z to suit the throw of the crank-pin z of the bal ance-wheel. The arrangement of the holes f f allows the hangers to be secured to the end frames and the bearing-arms to be adjusted'to suit any machines operated by treadle and pitman connections.

The crank-arms are made separate to allow the treadle or foot-rest to be adjusted laterally to suit different widths of machines and its connection with the pitman-rod. For this purpose the treadle is provided with slots 9 g, through which bolts h it pass into and through the inner ends of the crank-arm extensions 0 o, and are clamped by nuts it, while shouldered recesses or guides i 11, formed on the under side of the foot-rest, serve to brace its connection with the crank-arm extensions and prevent the treadle from twisting upon the clamping screws. In adjusting the foot-rest it is only necessary to slide it upon the crank-arm extensions and clamp the screw-bolts when the pitman-connection is in its proper adjustment for the pi tm an.

The pitmanconnection consists of a bent arm, E, secured to the under side of the rear edge of the foot-rest by a screw-bolt,j, and nut 70, and to hold said bent arm from turning upon its clamping bOlt it is formed with a rib or bead, Z, on its upper surface and fitted into a groove, m, on the under side of the foot-rest, thus making its connection secure with a sin- The bent part of the arm E extends out from the corner of the foot-rest and is formed with a groove, n, on its under side and a slot, at, to allow of the attachment of a wristpin, 7', the shank s of which fits into the groove n and is clamped by a screw-bolt, t, and nut u, by which the Wrist-pin can be adjusted toward or from the foot-rest to suit the position of the pitman. The groove n of the bent arm holds the wrist-pin shank from turning upon its clamping-bolt.

The adj ustments of the foot-rest which I have described-to wit, as to its height by the hangers, as to its lateral position upon the crankarms, and as to its pitman-connection-adapts it for attachment to operate sewing-machines without change in any of its parts. i

In connection with the lateral adj ustment of the foot-rest upon the separate crank-arms to suit frames of different widths, the bent arm may also be adjusted laterally to suit the pitman-connection, while the adjustment of the Wrist-pin itself is to set it nearer to or farther from the foot-rest.

For aiding the continuous motion of the treadle a spring, 1), is coiled upon each crank arm, having one end secured over a pin, w, thereon, and its other end extending down is secured over a pin, 00, on the bearing-arm, so as to constantly exert their force to elevate the rear part of the foot-rest, and to cause the balance-wheel crank-pin to stop out of deadcenter when the machine is stopped, and thus not only allow the machine to be easily started, but to start always in a forward direction.

In applying the treadle to a machine already in use it is only necessary to remove the footrests and the lower frame-rod, and after securing the bearing-arms thereon by their sleeves a and clamping-screws y, replace the said rod and firmly secure it to the end frames, after which the crank-arms, the treadle-plate, and hangers can be applied, the pitman connection made and the proper adjustments easilyeft'ected to suit the throw of the balance-wheel crankpin.

I claim- 1. The combination, in a hanging swinging treadle, of the crank-arms G, with the bearingarms A, and the supporting-hangers D therefor, the said parts having the relation to each other and to the treadle-plate or foot-rest B substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

2. In a sewing-machine treadle, the combination, with the lower frame-bracing rod or, of the treadle-supportin g parts consisting of the bearing-arms A, mounted upon and extending forward of and above said frame-rod, the hangers D, supporting said bearing-arms upon the end frames, and the separate crank-arms 0, adapted to carry said treadle-plate free of said frame-rod, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

3. The treadle-plate of a hanging swinging treadle for sewing-machines, having the slots g g and the side shouldered recesses or guides, t" i, in combination with separate cranked arms 0 O, carrying the treadle-plate B, and

too

secured thereto by the screw-bolts h h and the said shouldered guides, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, with a sewing-machine treadle and the pitman-rod, of the pitman connection consisting of the bent arm E and the adjustable wrist-pin section 1" s, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

5. As a means for connecting the treadle with the pitman-rod of a sewing-machine, the bent arm E, having a rib or bead, l, fitting into a corresponding groove, m, in the treadle-plate and secured thereto by a screw-bolt, the bent part of said arm being formed with a slot, n, and an under groove, and an adjustable Wristpin attachment, 4" s, clamped within said groove, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

6. As a means for adjusting the relation of the treadle-connection with the pitman-rod of the balance-wheel, the hangers D D, provided 5 ing with the frame-rod (1, upon which they are secured, substantially as described.

7. In combination, a laterally-adjustable treadle, means for effecting its vertical adj ustment in relation to the throw of the crank-pin 10 of the balance-wheel, and means for efiecting the adjustment of the treadle wrist-pin connection with the pitman-rod, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

8. A hanging swinging treadle for sewing- 15 machines consisting of the treadle-plate B,

having slots 9 g and shouldered guides t" i, the separate crank-arms C O c 0, secured in said treadle-plate guides, the bearing-arms A A, fixed upon and projecting from the lower frame-rod, a, the hangers D D, having a fixed relation with the end frames, and an adjustable connection with said bearing-arms, an adjustable wrist-pin connection, 1' s, for the pitman-rod, and the springs c, all constructed and adapted for use substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

F. M. WEAVER. Witnesses:

WM. J was, F. E. VAN SICKLE. 

